WEBVTT BRETT THE HEARING HAPPENED HERETHIS AFTERNOON JUDGE WENDELLMEDICAL MARIJUANA.THAT’S ATTORNEY AND NATURALISHIS COMPANY WAS NOT ONE OF THE 5MURPHY SUED, CLAIMING IN COURTFACILITY WAS TOO CLOSE TO AATTORNEYS FOR THE STATE ARGUEDEVEN THOUGH JUDGE GRIFFEN HASN

A restraining order remains in place preventing the state from issuing licenses to grow medical marijuana.

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Friday, Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge, Wendell Griffen, heard arguments in a lawsuit filed against the Arkansas Department of Finance, Alcoholic Beverage Control and the Medical Marijuana Commission.

Judge Griffen had previously granted a temporary restraining order against the state agencies, preventing licenses being issued to 5 medical marijuana cultivation facilities in the state.

In court, attorneys for the state argued the lawsuit should be dismissed because of the state's sovereign immunity, which, prevents the state from being sued. Judge Griffen denied the motion and proceeded to hear arguments concerning the case.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Patrick Murphy who owns Naturalis Health L.L.C.. Murphy testified that there were blatant scoring irregularities with the companies who applied to receive a license to legally grow pot. Naturalis Health was not one of the top 5 companies chosen by the commission.

Murphy also testified about allegations of conflicts of interest between medical marijuana commissioners and two companies who were chosen to receive cultivation licenses.

Attorneys representing the state agencies argued that the allegations were only speculation and that there was no proof of any collusion between the state and those companies who were chosen to receive the licenses.

Judge Griffen did not issue a ruling at the end of the hearing. Griffen said he would issue his opinion in approximately 5 days, possibly by Wednesday.

Currently, the restraining order remains in place preventing the state from issuing licenses to the 5 cultivation facilities.

In court, attorneys for the state and Judge Griffen said the case would most likely be sent to the Arkansas Court of Appeals.